Gezicht op Jeruzalem vanaf de Zion c. 1870 - 1875

Curator: This is “Gezicht op Jeruzalem vanaf de Zion,” or "View of Jerusalem from Zion," an albumen print dating from around 1870-1875, credited to Horatio Herbert Kitchener. Editor: It's a striking image, really quite still and somehow…loaded. The monochromatic tones lend a certain weight, a feeling of history pressing down. Curator: Indeed. Kitchener, later known for his military exploits, was at this point involved in survey work, particularly in the Middle East. This photograph exists as both aesthetic object and document of a colonial gaze. Editor: Colonial, absolutely. I'm curious how this vision of Jerusalem circulates back into Europe. How does it confirm or challenge existing understandings of the 'Orient'? Curator: The 'Orientalist' style here flattens Jerusalem into a picturesque backdrop devoid of everyday realities, creating a sense of timelessness that supports imperial narratives. Editor: Exactly, the lack of people, of visible movement...it's a stage set waiting for a particular kind of drama to unfold. We should address its absence of context. What kind of 'Zion' does it signal? Is it just aesthetic, or religiously fueled? Curator: It begs the question, certainly, of which Zion is prioritized and who gets to perform the vision. We cannot consider these landscapes of the ‘Holy Land’ in isolation. The photographic project is part of a history of imagining, controlling, and claiming this territory. Editor: And this relates directly to contemporary identity politics and power dynamics in the region. The "View of Jerusalem from Zion," taken by a man who would become a powerful figure in the British Empire. So much to unpack here! Curator: There really is. This quiet photograph resonates profoundly with the louder narratives of power, perspective and prejudice. It’s essential to acknowledge them. Editor: Ultimately, engaging with images like these challenges us to decode visual histories and ask critical questions about how they shape and influence the world we inhabit now.